Monday, 21 March 2011

Audiomovies - the next evolution of Audiobooks: Independence Day UK

Back at the tail end of the 70's, Douglas Adams had the idea of producing the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy radio series as a rock album. It was the intention that it would feature lots of music and various sound-processing techniques during the course of telling the story. Unwittingly he had conceptualised the first audiomovie. BBC producer Dirk Maggs had a similar idea at around the same time, and he had experimented with the process during the late 80's.

Undoubtedly influenced by the concept albums of bands like The Eagles (in particular their song "Journey of the Sorcerer" which was modified to become the theme tune to the Hitchhikers guide itself) and albums such as Jeff Wayne's war of the worlds.

But it wasn't until 1997 when Maggs approached Dean Devlin, producer of Hollywood Blockbuster Independance Day that this idea really came to fruition with the first modern Audiomovie "Independence Day UK". Roland Emmerich provided permission and Devlin then acted as executive producer.

With music by Bond-scorer David Arnold and a star studded cast including Toyah Wilcox, Patrick Moore, Peter Serafinowicz and Radio One DJ's Mark Goodier and Nicky Campbell the true Audiomovie was born.

Maggs himself coined the phrase Audiomovie.

But since then, other than a few Thunderbirds audiomovies there doesn't appear to have been a terrific amount of audiomovies released. Until now. With the Minister of Chance, The Magic Mattress and a host of others appearing almost overnight it seems as if Audiomovies are set to become the new standard of audiobooks.

We hope to be interviewing the creators of these and other audiobooks very shortly.